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Call 911 To Report a Fire

Thursday, November 4, 2010 - 9:18am

In the past several weeks, the City of Madison Fire Department administrative office has received many phone calls and voicemail messages reporting fires that were already extinguished. Some of these calls and messages were received hours and even days after the fire occurred. Often, the caller is not sure who to call or they request that someone respond to write a fire report for an insurance claim.

Fire officials ask that people report all fires, no matter how small, when they are discovered. Fire doubles in size every 30 seconds and smoke and flames can spread through a building very quickly. Delayed evacuation or reporting of the fire can result in injuries and more fire damage. Trying to extinguish the fire yourself is also dangerous.

Please call 911 for any fire, even if you believe it is extinguished. Firefighters will confirm that the fire is extinguished, including any fire that may be hidden inside walls and void spaces. They will also ventilate any smoke from the building and confirm that it is safe to re-enter the building.

• If you hear a fire alarm or smoke alarm, see or smell smoke, or see a fire, please leave the building.
• Once you are safely outside, call 911 to report the fire.
• Remain outside until the fire department determines it is safe to return to the building.
• Install at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home including one in each bedroom or sleeping area and one outside the bedroom doors.
• Test your smoke alarms every month.
• Have a home escape plan and practice it twice a year.
• Please visit www.madisonfire.org for more safety information.